|
Known Torturer 'Samour' Not Fired by
Arafat The Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine took responsibility for the shooting
death of an Israeli settler and her child on December 11, 1996, the
anniversary of the PFLP's founding. Following the attack, the Palestinian
Authority engaged in an arbitrary arrest campaign, detaining dozens of
PFLP members and sympathizers. According to the testimonies recorded by
the PHRMG, many if not most detainees were subjected to severe beatings,
torture, mistreatment, and held in substandard conditions. In particular
we are concerned about suspects tortured with electric cables. One person
was held by Palestinian Military Intelligence, beaten all over his body
for more than 30 minutes with electric cables by five interrogators (
headed by an officer known by his first name, 'Samour') so that he would
reveal the whereabouts of his brother. We know that this person was not
suspected of any crime since he was released 15 hours later, after the
brother turned himself in to the authorities.
Palestinian law and international human rights standard do not allow
torture under any circumstances, or the holding hostage of family members
as a means of pressure on suspects. The PHRMG sent a letter to President
Yasser Arafat on December 18 and requesting that he take steps to stop the
unjust and illegal practices. In the letter, the Beit-El attack was
condemned. On January 5, it was reported that President Arafat had fired
numerous security personnel in the Ramallah district, including Samour of
the Palestinian Military Intelligence. Apparently, the Governor of
Ramallah district forwarded complaints from popular organizations
regarding torture, bribe-taking, and corruption on the part of the
security forces. In the following days, Police Chief Ghazi Jabali and
Mukhabarat Chief Amin al-Hindi denied that anyone was fired, insisting
that the officers in question were merely being posted to different
positions.
e officers in question were merely being posted to different positions.
|
